The Bestiary, subtitled A Compendium of Creatures and Beings from the Lost World of Atlantis, is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1986 for The Atlantean Trilogy fantasy role-playing game, later known simply as Atlantis.
The Bestiary, subtitled A Compendium of Creatures and Beings from the Lost World of Atlantis, is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1986 for The Atlantean Trilogy fantasy role-playing game, later known simply as Atlantis.
The Bestiary is a supplement which describes many fantastical creatures that can be used in the Atlantis role-playing game. [1] The book is divided into two sections:
In the 1980s a group of friends who played a customized version of Dungeons & Dragons — Vernie Taylor, Steven Cordovano, and Stephan Michael Sechi — decided to publish details of their home campaign and each put up $600 to form Bard Games. [3] : 172 In 1983 the new company published three books known as the "Compleat Series": The Compleat Adventurer by Sechi, The Compleat Spell Caster by Taylor and Sechi, and The Compleat Alchemist by Cordovano and Sechi. No specific role-playing system rules were credited, the assumption being that players would use the popular Dungeons & Dragons rules.
The following year, these books were combined with a new role-playing system into one central rulebook, The Arcanum . This was followed by The Lexicon in 1985, which provided the setting, and The Bestiary in 1986, which provided the creatures. As a result, the role-playing game became known as The Atlantean Trilogy; later versions were titled simply Atlantis.
The Bestiary, a 132-page softcover book, was written by Sechi and J. Andrew Keith, with illustrations by Bill Sienkiewicz, and cover art by P.D. Breeding. [4]
In 1988, following the publication of a second edition of The Arcanum, Bard Press combined The Lexicon and The Bestiary into a single book, Atlantis: The Lost World. [5]
Sechi would go on to produce the role-playing game Talislanta , also published by Bard Games in 1987.
In the 2014 book Designer & Dragons: The '80s, game historian Shannon Appelcline wrote that "Because of the success of their Compleat books, Bard Games decided to combine the best information from those supplements within a game system and a setting. The result — which would become known as "The Atlantis Trilogy" — would really put Bard on the map. Stephan Michael Sechi oversaw this new and daunting project — which took three years to complete. Eventually he produced three books: The Arcanum (1984), The Lexicon (1985), and The Bestiary (1986). The system was clearly derivative of D&D, but it also introduced character skills and point-based character creation. The setting was a bit more unique, as it portrayed an antediluvian world of myth (though it also contained some off-key elements including typical fantasy races of D&D and even druids). Some players embraced the new game as a more complex D&D with a uniquely textured setting." [3] : 186
Appelcline also noted that Morrigan Press later "licensed the Talislanta setting from Stephan Michael Sechi and also bought the rights to two of his Atlantis rules books — The Lexicon and The Bestiary." [6] : 110
Phil Frances reviewed all three books of The Atlantean Trilogy for White Dwarf #85, and stated that "The Bestiary is my favourite because of the illustrations by Bill Sienkiewicz (of Marvel Comics) [...] A Monster Manual done with taste." [1]
Talislanta is a fantasy role-playing game written by Stephen Michael Sechi and published by Bard Games in 1987. There have been six different English-language editions and several foreign language editions published. There is an all new edition of Talislanta called Talislanta: Epic Edition, also known as the 6th and Final Edition published by Everything Epic to be released end of 2023.
Atlantis is a fantasy role-playing game (RPG) originally published by Bard Games, set in the ancient world before Atlantis sank. It first consisted of three books: The Arcanum, The Lexicon, and The Bestiary, and for this reason was originally called The Atlantean Trilogy or The Atlantis Trilogy.
GURPS Bestiary is a source book for the GURPS role-playing game system containing information and statistics of animals. It also contains information animal player character templates, and tips for fitting animals into adventures. The first edition was published in 1988.
Bard Games was an American game company that produced role-playing games and game supplements.
Stephan Michael Sechi is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Steven Cordovano is a game designer who has worked primarily on role-playing games.
Daedalus Entertainment was a Canadian game company that produced role-playing games and game supplements.
The Compleat Adventurer is a 1983 role-playing game supplement for published by Bard Games.
The Compleat Alchemist is a generic role-playing game supplement first published by Bard Games in 1982.
The Compleat Spell Caster is a 1983 role-playing game supplement for published by Bard Games.
The Arcanum, published by Bard Games in 1984, is the first book in the fantasy role-playing game Atlantean Trilogy, later known simply as Atlantis.
The Chronicles of Talislanta is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1987 for the fantasy role-playing game Talislanta.
The Talislantan Handbook is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1987 for the fantasy role-playing game Talislanta.
A Naturalist's Guide to Talislanta is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1987 for the fantasy role-playing game Talislanta.
Talislanta Sorcerer's Guide is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1988 for the fantasy role-playing game Talislanta.
GURPS Werewolf: The Apocalypse is a supplement published by Steve Jackson Games (SJG) in 1993 that translates the role-playing game Werewolf: The Apocalypse to the GURPS rules set.
The Book of Monsters is a supplement for fantasy role-playing games published by Little Soldier Games in 1976.
The Cyclopedia Talislanta Volume II: The Seven Kingdoms is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1989 for the fantasy role-playing game Talislanta.
The Lexicon, subtitled Atlas of the Lost World of Atlantis, is a supplement published by Bard Games in 1985 for The Atlantean Trilogy fantasy role-playing game, later known simply as Atlantis.
Theatrix Ironwood is a supplement published by Backstage Press in 1994 for the diceless role-playing game Theatrix.